Kyrgyzstan is developing a mechanism to provide pension support for citizens working abroad without formal employment, the head of the Social Fund’s Public Relations Department, Jenishbek Mukambetov, said on Birinci Radio, as reported by 24.kg.
“The issue primarily concerns citizens whose employment abroad is not officially recorded. Without formal work, they do not make insurance contributions, do not accumulate work experience, and may face difficulties when applying for a pension,” Mukambetov explained.
As of September 1, 2025, about 880,000 Kyrgyz citizens were officially abroad, with roughly 612,000 working in Russia. “Many have acquired Russian citizenship and reside there permanently. However, for those temporarily working abroad, social insurance and pension coverage need further refinement,” he added.
The Cabinet has tasked authorities with including these citizens in the social insurance system. One option under consideration is voluntary contributions to personal insurance accounts, allowing individuals to accumulate work experience even without formal employment or documented income.
Authorities are exploring ways for Kyrgyz migrants to register in the unified identification system, obtain a cloud-based electronic signature, and transfer insurance contributions internationally. Mukambetov noted, “We also need to consider payment channels, as some cards do not work abroad, and ensure integration with mobile operators. All these aspects are being addressed by the working group.”
Kyrgyzstan is gradually tightening work experience requirements for pension eligibility. In 2024, the minimum experience was reduced to five years. From 2026, it will increase to six years and will eventually reach 20 years by 2045. Retirement ages remain unchanged: 63 for men and 58 for women.
“The minimum experience requirement was introduced to strengthen the insurance principles of pensions and ensure the financial sustainability of the system. Previously, people could retire with just one month of experience, resulting in very low pensions,” Mukambetov recalled.
